Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 11

Unknown
English Brass Bound Mahogany Lap Desk, Late 19th Century

Late 19th Century

$975
£742.76
€856.52
CA$1,381.11
A$1,482.97
CHF 797.96
MX$17,549.47
NOK 10,052.80
SEK 9,168.72
DKK 6,399.70

About the Item

English Brass Bound Mahogany Lap Desk, Late 19th Century 20 inches wide This is an elegant English brass-bound mahogany lap desk, likely dating from the late 19th to early 20th century. The desk is crafted from richly figured mahogany, showing a warm reddish-brown tone and fine grain throughout. It has a rectangular, low-profile form, designed to rest comfortably on the lap or a table. The exterior is reinforced with brass bindings and corner mounts, which both protect the edges and give the piece a refined, architectural look typical of English travel and writing furniture. At the front is a decorative brass escutcheon, fitted with a working lock and accompanied by an original braided silk key tassel, a particularly appealing detail that adds a sense of completeness and period charm. The lid is hinged along the back and would open to reveal a fitted writing surface—traditionally lined in leather or baize—with internal compartments for pens, ink bottles, and paper. Overall, the lap desk combines practical portability with understated elegance, reflecting the craftsmanship associated with English campaign and personal writing furniture. It would have been used by a gentleman or lady for correspondence at home or while traveling and today serves as both a functional writing piece and a decorative antique object.
  • Creation Year:
    Late 19th Century
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 5 in (12.7 cm)Width: 20 in (50.8 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Beachwood, OH
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU1768217493402

More From This Seller

View All
18th Century English Double Handle Footman
Located in Beachwood, OH
English Double Handle Footman, 18th Century Brass 12 x 18 x 17 inches
Category

18th Century More Art

Materials

Brass

Green Onyx Marble Napoleonic Desk Trough, 19th Century
Located in Beachwood, OH
Napoleonic Desk Trough, 19th Century Green onyx marble 4 x 9.5 x 5.5 inches
Category

19th Century More Art

Materials

Marble

Erhard Söhne Art Nouveau Jugendstil Jewelry Casque w/ Inlaid Brass Rose Design
Located in Beachwood, OH
Erhard & Söhne, 19th Century Art Nouveau Jugendstil Casque with Inlaid Brass Rose Design, c. 1904 6 x 9 x 6 inches The company Erhard & sons was established by Carl Gottlieb Erhard ...
Category

Early 1900s More Art

Materials

Brass

Tiffany Co. 19th Century Bronze Cherub on Marble Base
Located in Beachwood, OH
Tiffany & Co. 19th Century Cherub Bronze on marble base Engraved on back of base Sculpture: 6 x 13.5 x 7 inches Overall: 7.5 x 15.5 x 9 inches Tiffany & Co. is an American luxury je...
Category

19th Century Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Monumental Chinese Famille Rose Medallion Vase, 20th Century
Located in Beachwood, OH
Monumental Chinese Famille Rose Medallion Vase, 20th Century Porcelain 36 x 18 inches Famille rose is an 18th century Chinese porcelain, characterized by its pink-colored enamel.
Category

20th Century More Art

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of French Porcelain de Paris Gold Urns with Scenes of Roman History
Located in Beachwood, OH
Pair of French Porcelain de Paris Gold Urns with Scenes of Roman History, Early 19th Century 13 x 6.5 x 5 inches The base of one urn states “Tibrius Gracchus Ferme Le Temple De Satu...
Category

Early 19th Century More Art

Materials

Porcelain

You May Also Like

English Campaign Style Rosewood Brass Inlaid Lap Desk, circa 1850
Located in San Francisco, CA
A fine quality brass inlaid Campaign style traveling desk with a recessed brass handle engraved with the name of its owner, Anne Orten. The piece opens to reveal a velvet lined writi...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century English Campaign Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

19th C. English Campaign Style Mahogany Travel Desk by G. Riddle, London
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A finely crafted travel desk by a noted British maker of boxes. The campaign style box has shaped brass corners, tabs, a lid plaque, center front escutcheon, and classic encased side...
Category

Antique 19th Century English Campaign Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Brass Bound Writing Slope from the Mid 19th Century
Located in Tunbridge Wells, GB
Heading : Brass bound writing slope from the mid 19th century Date : c1850 Period : Victoria Origin : England Decoration : Brass bound with vacant brass cartouche. Inteiror lined...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century British Victorian Decorative Boxes

Materials

Wood

Mid 19th century mahogany brass bound campaign writing slope
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 19th century mahogany brass bound campaign writing slope circa 1860. Good quality military-campaign writing slope, with secret compartments. Rectangular shaped box with brass s...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century English Campaign Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

19th Century Manner of George Bullock, Regency Brass Inlaid Rosewood Lap Desk
By George Bullock
Located in Morristown, NJ
c.1800, England, Regency brass inlaid rosewood lap desk in the manner of George Bullock. Rectangular box with double-hinged lid, opening to tooled na...
Category

Antique Early 18th Century English Regency Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass, Gold Leaf

19th Century brass bound mahogany writing slope
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century brass bound mahogany writing slope circa 1890. Good quality brass bound box slope made in mahogany.  Inscribed brass plaque shows that this was presented to a mr james ...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Campaign Desk Sets

Materials

Brass